The holiday will be followed by a long weekend.

UAE officials have announced that Commemoration Day – previously known as Martyrs’ Day – will be observed a day early this year.

The holiday, which is held to remember those who have sacrificed their lives in service of the UAE, will this year be marked on Thursday November 29.

Commemoration Day is usually held on November 30, to mark the anniversary of the first Emirati serviceman who died for his country in 1971. The holiday was first introduced in 2015.

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At 8am on the day, the UAE flag will be raised at half-mast at government offices. This will be followed by a minute of silence at 11.30am, before the flag is raised again and the national anthem is sung.

While the holiday won’t result in a day off for either the public or private sector, it will be immediately followed by a long weekend. Employees will be given Sunday and Monday off to mark UAE National Day on December 2.

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